BLACKSBURG, Va. – The nationally ranked Virginia Tech women’s swimming and diving team has announced the fall signing of six swimmers to National Letters of Intent for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Kameron Ansley comes to the H2Okies from Osborn High School in northern Virginia, where she is an honors student. Ansley, who swims for Coach Rick Benner and QDD, originally hails from Savannah, Ga., but followed her longtime coach from Osborn to finish her high school career and further her training opportunities. Ansley excels in the butterfly events and has achieved great national and international success in the pool. One of her most recent acomplishments was representing the USA on the National Junior Team during the Mel Zajac Jr. International Swim Meet in Vancouver, B.C. Ranked as a high four-star recruit by Swimming World, Ansley chose Tech over Tennessee, Virginia, Louisville, Ohio State and West Virginia.

Top Times

100 Fly: 54.99*

200 Fly: 1:59.45*

200 IM: 2:03.81*

* Times converted from LCM

“Kameron has a great passion and fire for the sport and has experienced great amounts of success on the international scene,” said head coach Ned Skinner. “We felt a great connection with Kameron from the beginning of the recruiting process, and her trip to Blacksburg put it over the edge. Her strong desire for success is something that we feel will help this program continue to grow.”

Brittany Boone, hailing from Ashburn, Va., joins Virginia Tech from Stone Bridge High School where she currently swims for Coach Jennifer House. Boone also competes for the Curl Burke Swim Club under the guidance of Coach John Flanagan. An Academic All-American, Boone is a national qualifier in the backstroke events and was a recent finalist in the NI Eastern Zone Champions Series. She follows a family heritage in choosing Virginia Tech as her father, Timothy Boone, played baseball for the Hokies. Boone chose Tech over Alabama and North Carolina.

Top Times

100 Back: 55.31*

200 Back: 1:59.20*

* Times converted from LCM

“We are really excited to have Brittany join our program as she is coming off an exceptional summer and we feel she is just now coming into her own,” Skinner said. “She has great size and has trained well under Coach Flanagan, and we feel her maximized potential is around the corner. She has a fun personality and will fit in well with our women.”

Aubree Duncan comes to the Hokies from Woodstock, Ga., where she swims for Coach Mark Schilling and the Chattahoochee Gold. Duncan, a four-star recruit on Swimming World’s recruit rankings, attends Etowah High School and swims for Coach Tracey Bulger. Duncan is a high school All-American and is ranked nationally in the backstroke events. With an interest in biological sciences, Duncan’s list of achievements out of the pool are perhaps just as impressive as the list in the pool. She is a member of the National Beta Club, Junior Leadership Council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and is on the Scholastic All-American Team. Duncan selected the H2Okies over Maryland, Penn State, Arkansas and Louisville.

Top Times

100 Back: 55.87*

200 Back: 1:58.81*

* Times converted from LCM

“We are excited we have Aubree joining us next fall,” Skinner said. “Not only do we feel we have a great talent coming in to help us in the pool, but we feel Aubree’s strong character and values will immediately impact our program as well. She is a great person and we recognized this even more when she came on her recruiting trip. Aubree, with great guidance from Coach Schilling, exhibits a powerful force in the water and we are ready to take her swimming to the next level.”

Katarina Filova, a native of Bratislava, Slovakia, comes to the H2Okie program with thriving international success, having previously competed in the European Jr. Championships, Australian Championships, European Championships, World Grand Prix competitions and the World Championships. Filova recently excelled at the World Championships in Rome, taking 31st in the 100 freestyle and 24th in the 200 freestyle events. Filova has been a member of the Slovak National Team since 2004, has won several Slovak National titles, and is currently finishing up her studies at St. Paul’s Anglican High School in Brisbane, Australia.

Top Times

50 Free: 23.21*

100 Free: 48.94*

200 Free: 1:44.98*

500 Free: 4:54.95*

100 Back: 56.22*

200 Back: 2:02.83*

* Times converted from LCM

“It is exciting to have Katarina join our program as she is experienced at the international level and will be an immediate threat at ACC’s and NCAA’s,” Skinner stated. “She has the fight in her to become one of the greatest individuals we have ever had here at Virginia Tech, and we are eager to get her going.”

Abby Houchin, hailing from Raleigh, N.C., joins the H2Okies from Enloe High School where she swims for Coach Vickie Peoples, while also competing for the YMCA of the Triangle under Chad Onken. A multiple YMCA National finalist, Houchin is an All-American and an Academic All-Conference member. Following the tradition of college swimming in her family, Houchin is a multiple-time team record holder and national qualifier. Houchin chose Tech over West Virginia, TCU and Georgia Tech.

Top Times

100 Breaststroke: 1:05.15

200 Breaststroke: 2:17.13

“Having another YOTA breaststroker join our program is very exciting,” Skinner said. “Abby has shown great improvement over the last couple of seasons, and we are thrilled about where she is heading, especially as she will be wearing a VT swim cap. Under the direction of Coach Onken, we know Abby will continue to improve even before she gets to college. She has the passion to do what it takes to be great.”

Rachel Sepanski, hailing from Yorktown, Va., swims for the Coast Guard Blue Dolphins under coaches Jack Bierie and Steve Hennessy and attends Tabb High School. A multiple-time state finalist, Sepanski excels in the short-range freestyle events. She has been named “Star Athlete of the Week” twice in Virginia high school swimming and has garnered All-State honors as well. Sepanski decided on Virginia Tech over James Madison and William and Mary.

Top Times

50 Free: 23.70*

100 Free: 52.00

200 Free: 1:52.23

* Time converted from LCM

“We are very happy to have Rachel join our program next year as we feel she is a true diamond in the rough and her best is yet to come,” Skinner said. “Under the great coaching and leadership of Coach Bierie and Hennessy, Rachel has blossomed in the last two seasons. She will influence our program in the individual events as well as the relays. Rachel is a great athlete with loads of personality and we are ready for her to achieve greatness as a H2Okie.”